Just a week ago I rode through Boca Grande Pass and only seen a handful of boats on the last of an outgoing tide. This is typically the best tide to catch tarpon and the tarpon boats were gone. For me, this was the signal of great fishing ahead for tarpon…..that’s right tarpon. And for that fact, big fish in general. Common belief is that tarpon leave the pass after months of frolicking and then go offshore to spawn. Sounds good to me but there are still plenty of tarpon that come and go from the harbor and beaches. They are hungry and not harassed by other anglers and often are reckless in taking your bait. The earlier you fish the better chance you will have spotting them on the calm summer waters.
July means warm water and 90 degrees on the flats and beaches is not uncommon. The warm water means elevated metabolism’s for all fish and migratory baitfish swarm the harbor and all fish go into a feeding frenzy on a daily basis. As anglers there is a lot of competition with the baitfish swimming around but a partially injured bait is what they look for, an easy catch.
This the month I often catch the biggest snook, tarpon and redfish inshore. Offshore it’s the same story for red grouper and snapper; big ones!
To be successful you have to catch the bait which is typically the hardest part of the day. Full time captains are set up on the bait holes as the sun comes up, which means 6:00am. That’s a really early start but bigger bait appears early on the flats and after that the micro-baits will be seen in swarms. Also, threadfins are great at running from the cast net with bright sun but if they don’t see the net coming you can trap them.
With tarpon swimming around the harbor the easiest bait to fill the well is the threadfin. The problem with threadies is the catfish are here in swarms and often you cannot keep them off the hook. If you hook & line ladyfish you might be in business but they have a funny way of disappearing this month! About the only bait that is easy to catch and use is the hardhead catfish. Use the tail end of the catfish with an 8/0 hook, 80# test and soak them on the bottom at anchor. Their relatives will not bite them and tarpon love them.
Generally, I try to bring threadfins, pinfish, ladyfish and catfish when fishing around the harbor. A lot of work filling the well but with these 4 baits you can target just about anything. Redfish will school up this month and threadfins fished live or cut work great as does pinfish. High tides fish deep under the mangroves and low tides it’s the sandholes. Big snook will munch on these two baits as well!
Sometimes threadfins are hard to catch and here are a couple of pointers to help you. First, you need a net with 5/8” mesh so it sinks fast. Secondly, these baitfish will run from any motor noise. Next, different schools have different personalities. Some schools are skittish and some will swim right up to your boat so try different schools and lastly, always have a sabiki rig ready if you can’t net them.
With so much bait of different sizes around you need to have 3 different nets aboard: 1/4”, 3/8” and 5/8”. Patience, perseverance and a super early start puts “Miller Time” around noon with something really good to talk about!
Capt. Chuck Eichner operates Action Flats Backcountry Charters and can be reached at 941-628-8040. Come live the dream, I will show you how! Fishing, Sailing, Boating in the most beautiful place in the world.
To see an in print version including pictures and modified by the editor, go to www.WaterLifeMagazine.com
